Sustainability-oriented research and innovation in ‘farm to fork’ value chains

The European Green Deal clearly declares the ambitious goal of making European food ‘the global standard for sustainability’ on the basis of an integrated approach encompassing all aspects of food supply chains. The Farm to Fork Strategy asserts that research and innovation are key drivers in accelerating the transition to sustainable, healthy and inclusive food systems, from primary production to consumption. Therefore, in this paper, the most promising fields of innovation towards this transition in the agrifood sector have been reviewed with reference to the value chain actors engaged in their implementation. Although not exhaustive, this short survey presents a selection of solutions that have in recent years been viewed as ‘first mover’ opportunities for innovation in the agrifood sector where changes have been initiated but need to be further implemented. The paper first discusses options that allow agrifood businesses to operate directly as innovation providers, and then expands on the role of public stakeholders, namely consumers, policy makers and researchers, to act as agents of change and contribute to pave the way to a ‘green deal’ in Europe. The survey concludes by highlighting the possibility of developing integrated approaches to research and innovation to ensure the sustainability of the food system through cooperative actions engaging both private and public actors in the value chain.